MASSIVE thanks to Research In Motion today for the infusion of $4500 to our maker space.

RIM supports employee volunteer efforts in the community by giving $500/employee to qualifying organizations through their Proud2Be program. With great help from our fearless treasurer and hardest-working-kwartzlabber, Ben, I submitted the paperwork and worked with relevant RIM folks to hook us in to this great opportunity. Not surprising, a full one quarter of kwartzlabbers work at RIM: seems makerly creativity and the do-ocracy span both professional and private life! So 9 (x $500) of us RIM-kwartzlabbers directed our Proud2Be dollars to the lab. Take a bow: Matt, Natalie, Andrew, James, Rob, Katchan, Ron, and Pawel

Special shout-outs to

• Mandy Dennison, team lead of the RIM Community Investments group, for hooking me up to this program and listening to my lightning kwartzlab overview

• Laura Richards, RIM community investments specialist, for streamlining and guiding our 9 applications through the process

Now anybody who knows us, knows that we know how to stretch a buck. I suspect that some portion of our new cash is going to make it possible to bring power, light, and ventilation into our awesome 1400 sqft Tool Room, where a kiln, and giant bandsaw, and a host of other tools have been waiting patiently for infrastructure. This really accelerates us along our capability arc plan. Stay tuned for more great projects and events.

If you too can support kwartzlab with tools/materials/services please ping me.

So after 8 years with RIM and 1 year lighting kwartzlab up, I have to say it’s super satisfying to finally connect these two creative dynamos I love working on.

Happy making,

DW